News / National
Tsvangirai's MDC-T to decide on poll boycott
10 Apr 2015 at 07:14hrs | Views
THE MDC-T national council will today meet in Harare to decide whether or not to participate in the forthcoming by-elections in 14 constituencies, amid reports that another rebellion is imminent in the party if the leadership sticks to its poll boycott stance.
This comes amid reports that some MDC-T members in Bulawayo and Kwekwe are already jostling for positions to represent the party in the June 10 polls.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday said a decision on whether or not to participate would be taken today.
"The national executive is meeting in the morning on Friday (today) with the national council meeting later in the afternoon, but one of the issues on the agenda is that of the by-elections," he said.
"I don't want to pre-empt the deliberations, but we will let people discuss and come up with a conclusion on whether or not to take part in the by-elections. A clear picture will come after that, but as it stands, we stick to the congress resolution that we will not participate in any election."
Gutu, together with other party stalwarts, has been accused of pushing for the abandonment of the poll boycott stance adopted last October, but he denies the accusations.
The MDC-T failed to field candidates in by-elections held recently in Mt Darwin North and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituencies, citing an uneven electoral playing field.
The two seats were resoundingly won by Zanu-PF and the revolutionary party is now readying itself for the 14 seats that were declared vacant after the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party recalled 21 Members of Parliament.
The recall came after the legislators crossed the floor to join the MDC Renewal Team before merging with the MDC faction led by Professor Welshman Ncube under the banner, United Movement for Democratic Change.
Of the 21 seats, seven will not be contested as they were held by MPs who came into Parliament through proportional representation.
The 14 by-elections will be held on the same day as those for Headlands and Hurungwe West to replace expelled Zanu-PF legislators Didymus Mutasa and his nephew Temba Mliswa, respectively.
The Nomination Court sat on Wednesday to receive nomination papers for candidates who will battle it out in Hurungwe West and Headlands, while candidates who will contest in the 14 other constituencies will file their papers on April 16.
The MDC-T did not field candidates for the Hurungwe West and Headlands by-election when the Nomination Court sat on Wednesday.
Sources yesterday said MDC-T members were contemplating contesting as independent candidates if the party did not reverse its poll boycott resolution.
"Some are of the view that they cannot be held to ransom by people who have failed to win previous elections," said one source. "This means that if the national executive does not reverse their decision, then others have no option but to break ranks."
The by-elections will take place in Harare East, Kambuzuma, Kuwadzana East, Dzivarasekwa, Glen View, Luveve, Mpopoma-Pelandaba, Pumula, Highfield West, Lobengula, Tsholotsho North, Mbizo, Makokoba and Chikanga-Dangamvura.
This comes amid reports that some MDC-T members in Bulawayo and Kwekwe are already jostling for positions to represent the party in the June 10 polls.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday said a decision on whether or not to participate would be taken today.
"The national executive is meeting in the morning on Friday (today) with the national council meeting later in the afternoon, but one of the issues on the agenda is that of the by-elections," he said.
"I don't want to pre-empt the deliberations, but we will let people discuss and come up with a conclusion on whether or not to take part in the by-elections. A clear picture will come after that, but as it stands, we stick to the congress resolution that we will not participate in any election."
Gutu, together with other party stalwarts, has been accused of pushing for the abandonment of the poll boycott stance adopted last October, but he denies the accusations.
The MDC-T failed to field candidates in by-elections held recently in Mt Darwin North and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituencies, citing an uneven electoral playing field.
The two seats were resoundingly won by Zanu-PF and the revolutionary party is now readying itself for the 14 seats that were declared vacant after the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party recalled 21 Members of Parliament.
The recall came after the legislators crossed the floor to join the MDC Renewal Team before merging with the MDC faction led by Professor Welshman Ncube under the banner, United Movement for Democratic Change.
Of the 21 seats, seven will not be contested as they were held by MPs who came into Parliament through proportional representation.
The 14 by-elections will be held on the same day as those for Headlands and Hurungwe West to replace expelled Zanu-PF legislators Didymus Mutasa and his nephew Temba Mliswa, respectively.
The Nomination Court sat on Wednesday to receive nomination papers for candidates who will battle it out in Hurungwe West and Headlands, while candidates who will contest in the 14 other constituencies will file their papers on April 16.
The MDC-T did not field candidates for the Hurungwe West and Headlands by-election when the Nomination Court sat on Wednesday.
Sources yesterday said MDC-T members were contemplating contesting as independent candidates if the party did not reverse its poll boycott resolution.
"Some are of the view that they cannot be held to ransom by people who have failed to win previous elections," said one source. "This means that if the national executive does not reverse their decision, then others have no option but to break ranks."
The by-elections will take place in Harare East, Kambuzuma, Kuwadzana East, Dzivarasekwa, Glen View, Luveve, Mpopoma-Pelandaba, Pumula, Highfield West, Lobengula, Tsholotsho North, Mbizo, Makokoba and Chikanga-Dangamvura.
Source - chronicle
